Animal Whisperer: Take Back My Life and Love Chapter 348: The Sacred Fraud

Faylin was fuming. "You’re all career scammers. I’m going to make sure every one of you ends up in a cell."

Rudolph, Faylin’s cousin, came down from the second floor with a scowl. "Faylin, these people are trying to help Nana. They all agree this house is toxic. They’re telling her to get out for her own safety, and you’re the only one stopping her."

He narrowed his eyes. "Are you just waiting for her to kick the bucket so you can grab the inheritance? Is that why you want her staying in a house that’s clearly cursed?"

"The house is fine, Rudolph," Faylin snapped. "But you? You’re awfully desperate to push her out of a home she’s lived in for forty years. What’s your real angle?"

Rudolph stiffened, then glanced at Thomas, the guy in the priest robes. "Father Thomas, why don't you show everyone what we’re dealing with? Maybe that’ll shut her up."

Thomas stroked his beard and stepped forward. "Since Faylin doesn't believe us and brought in these... detectives," he said, mocking the title, "I’ll show you exactly how bad it is."

He waved at his assistant, who brought over a glass tank with a turtle inside.

"Most of you know the turtle is a sacred animal," Thomas started, sounding like he was preaching. "This one came from a sacred lake. It’s a magic turtle. It can smell death and spirits from a mile away."

Nancy saw the turtle and looked at Faylin. She finally got why she was there.

Thomas put the magic turtle on the floor. It had a weird shell and dark plates with gold rings that caught the light. It looked the part, at least.

The turtle started crawling. It was fine for a second, then it started jerking around like it was in pain. Suddenly, it yanked its head and legs into its shell and wouldn't budge.

While it was moving, Thomas was busy with a brush and some rice paper, tracing the turtle's path. As soon as the turtle hid, he held the paper up.

"Look at this! This turtle wasn't just wandering. It followed a divine path to leave us a message."

He flipped the paper. On it, in jagged, messy ink, was one word. Death.

The room lost it. Rudolph and the crowd started whispering in a panic.

"God, the spirits here are that pissed off?"

"Even the magic turtle is writing death. This is a bad sign."

Thomas sighed, acting like he was heartbroken. "When a magic turtle is too scared to even stay out of its shell, the danger is pretty obvious."

The old woman stared at the paper. Her hand shook as she gripped her cross, her face going totally white.

Rudolph grabbed her arm. "See, Nana? Even the turtle is telling you to leave. It’s begging you to sell this place. I already found that luxury retirement home for you. See how much I care?"

He glared at Faylin. "And she tried to stop you. She wanted you to stay here and…"

Nancy let out a loud laugh, cutting him off.

Everyone stared. Nancy was looking at the turtle on the floor with a smirk. While everyone else was buying the act, she was the only one hearing the turtle screaming in her head.

"Ow, ow, ow! It’s burning! Did these idiots put acid on the floor? My feet are on fire! What is wrong with these people? I’m being tortured! That’s it, I’m done. I’m staying in here forever!"

The turtle made one last groan and locked itself away.

Nancy looked at Thomas. "Thomas, is that really a magic turtle, or did you just torture the poor thing? Scaring an old lady with a trick like this is pretty low, even for you."

Thomas turned red. "Watch your mouth!"

Rudolph jumped in, pointing at Nancy and Simon. "Who the hell are you to come in here and lie? If you mess up my Nana’s protection, it’s on your head. I’ll call the cops and have you thrown out right now!"